Fatal New York Mills shooting started as girlfriend tried to pick up dogs

NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. - A shooting here last month that authorities are calling a murder-suicide occurred after a woman and her boyfriend arrived at her ex-boyfriend’s home to pick up her dogs, the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office said.

Ethan Honer, 20, of Perham, was shot to death July 31 by Jacob Geiser, 23, who then shot himself, authorities said. Geiser died a day later.

Honer was currently dating Geiser’s ex-girlfriend, and on the night of the shooting Honer, the girlfriend, who was not identified, and a relative of the girlfriend went to Geiser's residence on County Highway 56 three miles east of New York Mills to pick up the dogs, sheriff’s Lt. Matthew McGuire said.

Just after 9 p.m. July 31, police received a call reporting gunshots at Geiser's residence. When authorities arrived, they found Geiser and Honer with gunshot wounds. Honer died on scene, and Geiser was taken to a St. Cloud hospital, where he died.

McGuire said Thursday no charges will be filed, but the investigation remains active as authorities continue to interview those with relevant information and wait on a final autopsy report from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's office.

Both Honer and Geiser appeared to have no history of violent crimes or felonies.